Sheet distributing mechanism



N. E. TRUITT ETAL 2,241,163

SHEET DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM Filed April 10, 1939 S-Sheets-Sheet 1 May 6, 1941. Y

JD GNLGNI GD U IMMMD QI U B QMD W GMPQBMDO o o o a 6 o o0 @WMP y 6, 1941- N. E. TIRUITT ETAL 2,241,163

' SHEET DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM Filed April 10, 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1941- N. E. TRUITT ETAL' 2,241,168

SHEET DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM Filed April 10, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 I lwnm mun ay 1941- N. E. TRUITT ET AL 2,241,168

SHEET DISTRIBUTING MECHANISM Filed April 10, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 mnaiaumfli omwumurau Oavmmmu Ormannhayrmm:

Onvmumouw OMMMwm:

0am: amour Patented May 6, 1941 Norman E: Truittfand LewisF." sch'meaer, Chi

cago; Ill:, assignorsto Autocopy lnci', Chicago,

1113, a: corporation-of Illinois Apnicafionapriuo. Marsala-1N0. 267 1 1'7 "Claims;

. This inventioniis designed primarilygionuse in connection with a rotary; duplicating, machine of. the character set forth in, Patent; No. 1,979,255,

issued .November 6, 1934,, although the principles,

involved are applicable to the, distribution. of: sheets or the like delivered fromvarioustynes of mechanisms.

Asapplied to a. rotary, duplicatingmaehine, the, invention, makes. provision for the. segregationof one or morecopies in each of a. selected number. of binsoli compartments, sothateach divisior or compartment of a business organization willbe: furnishedwith a complete set of. copies, such for instanceas orders, invoices, inventories,,records: or thelike. V

The. machine, in its essentials, comprises, a; movablecarriage, which is divided. into. bins;or.- compartments which; are progressivelymoved, step by step, to the delivering endofthe duplicate ing machine or other mechanism from which, the sheets" are delivered, in conjunction, with. auto,- matic control mechanism, which may be setin, advance to selectively deliver thedesirednumben of. sheets into each compartment, or, ii. desired to. skip certain compartments so. thatlin. each; in

Figs: Giandt'l areisectionaldetails of thetrack wayffor: the carriage.

Eig.8 isadetail taken on line 8- --8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is.a wiringdiagram for the mechanismprovided: to automatically, controlling step. by

step; release of." thecarriage by; a pre-arranged set-up in. the switch. born.

Figs;v 10,, 11 ant-L12 are, details of. the; latch mechanism controlled bythe presence of a sheet advancing; to: the delivery point for conditioning the; operationpfa' a; carriage mechanism.

Fig. .13.:is a.sectional elevation similar toFig. l, but; illustrating;a.modified..form of delivery. for the-sheets:

Rig;.lidaairagmentaru view showing a modification inawhichmeans are provided for moving stance, by previous manipulationsit-isppssibleto,

set the machine. for automatic operatiqmin the. delivery, of the number of sheetswrequiredito fur nish replicas of the. same datato .each of-several: selected departments of a business organization.

Provision is also made for: disabling; the. auto matic operation of the machine. at any-timescthat a greater number of sheets mayrbedelivered-l to any particular bin than the numberwithin the range of automatic control, so that it;is .possible,

under special circumstances, to regulate the. delivery of sheetsby countingroperatiom.

' Further objects and details. willappear fromv the description of. the invention in conjunction,- with the accompanying drawings whereinFig. 11s. a longitudinal sectional elevation illustratingthe sheet distributing mechanism. combined; with a, rotary duplicator of the character described; Patent No. 1,979,285.

Fig. 2is a plan view, partially. broken away,. showing the automatic control mechanism for, releasing the carriage in itsstep. by stepgmovement. to the. sheet deliveringendof the: rotary: duplicator.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the stop mechanismzforj nredetermining the number of sheets to :be delivered: into any particular bin or compartment. of the; carriage.

Figs. 4 and 5are sectionaldetails taken.:on;1ine. 4-4 ofrli'ig. 3.

theecarriagezby power; both inits advance and its return movements.

Eig..l5.is-a;.detail, showing a convenient clutch arrangement for actuating the power mechanism.

with Fig; 14';;and:

Fig. lfiislaiurther. modification showing power means :for. returning. the carriage in its uppermost which rpointitheileading edge. of. the. paper sheet is pressedxagainst thesticky surface of the gelatine in preparation .forthe: advance. of a. pressure roll25' carriedby arrotatingring 26:. which also carries-stripper. rolls 2.1 located at a suitable distance behind the pressurerollZE. With this arrangement, the.- pressure roll. engages the. paper sheetairom beneath and flips it over on tothe g-elatinesurface andzduring the traverse of the pressuraroll, the impression is imparted to the paper sheet, which is thereafter stripped from the gelatine'. bythe. arrivali of the stripper rolls 2?.

whichieedsthe paper outwardly over the surface ofia shield plate 28in .the manner. described in the patent aforesaid, inpreparation for the release and-.delivery of. the sheet.

'Dhisprinciple: of operation is. fully described in the :patent aforesaid and need not be referred toinlfullidetaili 'I'hBrShiGldiof the duplicating machine here employedpfori thea'purposesgoftthepresent. inven- The: exposed portion of.

tion, has applied thereto a plurality of trip fingers 29 which are best illustrated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. These fingers are secured to the revolvable shield 28 (Fig. 1) near the front or discharge end thereof, and each is mounted on a pintle 30 in such position that the free ends 3| of the fingers will normally project beyond the surface of the shield. Whenever a paper sheet is carried around by the shield toward the point of discharge, the fingers will be held inwardly toward the surface of the shield by the pressure wardly to the uppermost position of the track Way by power mechanism presently to be described, although it may be restored to the upper position by hand, if the use of power is not deemed necessary. The descent of the carriage, step by step, is by gravity and the timing of the gravity movements is affected by the setting of the control mechanism so that the carriage, in each instance, will remain in the desired receiving position until the intended number of sheets has 4 been delivered into a particular bin or compartof the paper, and this has the effect of moving the fingers to the dotted line position shown in.

Fig- 10. The entire group of fingers, which are of bell crank formation areconnected by a cross rod 32 which carries a crank arm 33 engaging a link 34 secured to the free end of a pivoted latch 35 having a tooth 35 which engages a l notch 31 in a draw bar 38 under tension of a The draw bar at its opposite endspring 35. carries a roller 49 of insulating material, which normally rides upon the surface of an arcuate cam 4|. The bar 38 is slideably mounted within the surface of the shield and the roller 40 .extends laterally beyond the edge of the. shield, so that as the shield is revolved in conjunction with the stripper rollers, the roller will travel upon the edge of the stationary varcuate cam track 4|, unti1 it reaches the end ofthe cam track as illustrated in Fig. 10, at which point,

if the latch be released by the presence of a paper sheet, the roller will move outwardly to the dotted line position in preparation for the successive contact with switch buttons 42 and 43, the first of which may be referred to as the wiping switch button, which functions in releasing the paper'sheet from the surface of the shield and the latter of which may be called the brain switchbutton, which functions in the release of the stops required in holding the bin in position through one or more cycles of the duplicator operation to receive the number of sheets predetermined for said bin by the setting of the control switch in a manner presently to be described. 1 g

The depression of the switch button 42 operates to close a wiping. switch and the depression of the brain switchbutton 43 operates to close a brain switch 45. .The above mechanisms are the only ones which are applied. directly to the duplicator machine itself, and which are special to the presentv invention.

. The sheet distributing mechanism in the form shown in Fig. 1 includes a carriage 46 comprising a lower frame and an upper frame 48 connected by struts 53. The carriage is divided into bins or compartments by obliquely positioned spaced plates 50, each of sufficient capacity to receive a large number of sheets intended for a particular department or division of the business, so that all of the sheets received into a particular department will from time to time, be delivered to the department to which the particular compartment is appropriated. As shown, the carriage is provided with ten bins or compartments, although obviously a greater or lesser number can be employed depending upon the intended capacity of the machine. As shown in Fig. l, the carriage is mounted obliquely to travel by gravity downwardly. along tracks. 5|, being provided, with rollers-52 which ride upon the tracks which are suitably mounted and held within the frame of the machinefj "In the.form of construction shown in Fig. 1, the carriage, at the beginning of .its operation will. be drawn up-,

ment. In the form shown in Fig. 1, the sheets, when stripped from the gelatine band and carried around to the lower side of the duplicating machine, will fall upon an endless conveyor 53 and in order to effect a positive release of the sheets at the desired point, a wiper 54 of sponge rubber is provided which is carried by a bell crank arm 55, the opposite end of which is connected by a link 55 with a solenoid 51 adapted to be energized by the closing of the wiping switch 44 so that 'each time a sheet arrives at the proper point, the wiping fingers will be swung upwardly intoposition shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, to engage the surface of the sheet and hold it against further advance, in the event it tends to adhere to the surface of the shield 28, thereby effecting a positive discharge of the sheets to the advancing surface of the endless conveyor, which latter is preferably formed of separated strips with one or more wipers 54 positioned to operate between the strips of the conveyor.

-The frame 41 of the carriage is provided with a longitudinally extending release bar 58 provided at spaced intervals in its edge with notches 59, onefor the uppermost position of the carriage before its initial release, and one for each of the bins or compartments. The notches are adapted in s'uccessionto coact with a stop roller 60 mounted at one end of a pivoted lever 6|, the other end of which is connected by a link 62 with a core 63 of a carriage release solenoid 54 which operates against thetension of a spring 65. When the solenoid is energized, the core will be drawn inwardly momentarily releasing the roller 60 from engagement with the notch 59 so that the carriage will be released to roll downwardly, but since the energizing of the solenoid is momentary only, the roller will be free to roll into the next notch and again stop the carriage in the next receiving position. Provision,- however, is made for the skipping of one or more bins in a manner'presently to be described.

Below the carriage, and fixedly secured to a stationary frame 66, is a commutator panel 61 provided with groups of commutator plates arranged in the manner shown in Fig. 2, a'single group being provided foreach of the bins or compartments. Each group includes a single long commutator strip 68 which functions in the illuminatingof a light appropriate to the currently positioned bin, and which may therefore be referred to as the light commutator.

Adjacent the light commutator is a commutator strip 69 which functions in the drawing back of a feeler bar 10 in preparation for the setting of'the number of stops required to give the bin its intended number of paper sheets. The commutator 69 may therefore be called a setting commutator. Adjacent the commutator 69 and in over-lapping relation thereto are a plurality of commutator strips Ha, 'Hb, 'I|c,' Nd and He, being five in number and adapted to make provision forthe automatic deposit of a maximum of five sheets in each of the bins, although obvicttslyagreateror: lesser: number of-:such1-com-. mutator strips may be utilized; Since these com-4 mutaton strips:- control the: functioning; on the stopsawhich limit. ther:pro'gressivei restoration. of.

tha feeler bar -102 to carriagei-reieasing position, they may: beproperly. referred to: as. the: stop commutator strips.

Stationary; commutator panel; cooperates; with at multiple trolley device 12 l which. includes a. trolley arm for eachcommutator, strip,-. which. trolley: arm-,is' pivoted. at its center: to. a cross. 135 suspended from the moveable carriage. by; hangers It. Each. trolley: arm at: each endlls provided with. a roller. and? each upper. roller. makes; contact. with a. trolley wire. Thee trolleyv wire; l51-co-acts w-ith1 the light commutatorstrip 68%. The trolley wire. 161 coactstheifeeler barscommutaton. strip 69,-. and the trolley wiresl'! coact with the-stop: commutator: strips Ha 860;:-

solenoid: 64 momentarily.v releasing the carriage stoE-rollenfifl: The feeler. bar carries as contact'. pointa'89. and" in successioncomesin register: with contacts'190. (see wiring diagram. Fig. 9), which latter contactseare. respectively in circuit witha groupoi solenoids 02 (Fig; 3) one of which- 82iz-1 is; oppositely positioned with respect, to the position. occupied bythe.-remainder' of :the group. This 1 group of solenoids may be. referred. tov as the: stop. releasing group in the: progressive restoration of the feeler. bar 10 tothe fina1 po-- sitionz in whichit closes. theswitches: 81 and 88.

In; case; it; becomes: necessary? in. correcting a mistake; to .throw/ down. thevstops: by manual operation,. a.- wiping. switch 80a: may: be. thrown,-

Thes: commutator strips 69:: are"- in circuit. with which; closes the. circuits leading. to" thersoleacids-8.2;

The-stop. releasingigroup; of) solenoids; enacts.

with a: stop. setting. group .83 thezemiddle .zmember; ausof-which-is oppositely arranged asvcompared;

to the: arrangement of; theremaining; members;

iii-aligned relation and adapted :to beithrown into:

the path of a roller 93.'mounted:within;a-bracket.

94c carried-by the feeler. bar 10; The. end. of the bracket. is connected. bya spring; 95f which-.- urges. theieeler. bar, when released toward thes-switches 8.1,. and 88, andin. order to-steady, the travel of' the rollers93, a track wire; 96 is provided upon which the roller. isarrangedto, traveL. The feeler bar. ismounted within guides ill.

In the. arrangement .shown, the energizing. of the. entire group. of. solenoids 83; 831;. will: beat,- fected'by, contact ofithe trolley. wheel. with. the. associated commutator strip 619? which. has thev efl' ect'o ffthrowing the entire group, of stops!!! into thevreleasing position shown in Fig, 4, simultaneou ly'witli the drawback. of 'tiie feelerbar N ty-the ener iz of he-1 pln d' mi act-ion however; isbut'momentarysmce'the' oer leyfwheels will. thereafter. make. contact with. the.

stop setting commutator strips; Ha, Nb,- etc-., which are in circuit with the solenoids 82,1820. sot-hat. aeselectednumber. of. stops will. be instantly-thrown. tothe. right in Fig. 5' andin position.to:arrest thereturn movementof the: roller.

switch. box in .the. present instanceisprovided with ten. groups of press buttons, one group for eachbin or: compartment, which buttonsmay be; 5, selectively setgin. advance to control. the movements: of thecarriage andthe stopping periods. to. receive. into. the-respective compartments in.

eachinstance the. number of paper sheets apportionedtoeach. The. groupsof press. buttons are preferably of. colors special toeach of. the different: bins or compartments, and asrshown are the selective. setting of the stop mechanisms to time the arrest of the carriage for thedeposit ever, that a like wiring-arrangement is employed for. each group. of buttons. The button 99 controls a switch I03, and each stop setting button llll controls the associated switch I04, all of.

which switches arenormally in circuit closing relation through wires I05 with the commutator strips: 'Ha,, 1lb, etc., while thelight circuit is in closed circuit relationthrough a wire I06 with the light commutator strip 68. The depression ofanyone stopsetting button lfll therefore opens the associated. switch and cuts out the circuit.

beyond'said button so that it-is then possible only to. energize the number of stop setting solenoids 83iwhich remain in closed circuit relation. Thetrolleys 12 arein circuit relation with the group of solenoids 83 through circuit wires I01, all of which connect. with'a header wire I 08 in a circu-it whichincludesthe brain switch 45 and also includes a header wire I09. having leads extending through the: solenoids. 82 and the contacts 90, which latterare adapted to be successively closed by, the feeler bar 10, having the contact point 89 which connects with a line wire H0.

The button control circuits are also connected with a linevvire. HI. The commutator strip 69 is in circuit with the. solenoid 18 through a wire LIZWhich leads to the line wire H0. mm is. a continuationlof'the line wire H0 and is.in circuit'wvith so1enoid6'4'through switches 8Tand'88;

the circuit however, being adapted to be broken by a hold switch H4 operated by .a button H5.

on the'switch box.

Where the mechanism is to be operated by power, a motor H8 i provided which continuously drives the conveyor 53 through the medium of a sprocket chain Ill. The motor is provided with a motor shaft H8 uponwhich. is loosely mounted a spool I I9, upon which is wound a tape I20, which may be connected with the. carriage frame a shown in Fig. 14 where it is desired to mount the carriage for horizontal travel and to rely upon power rather than upon gravity for the forward advance of the carriage. Where gravity is'relied upon, these power connections are dispensed. with and provision i made only for the upward return movement of the carriage to its highest position. This return movement is eifected by a tape I2I wound upon a spool I22 loosely mounted upon the motor shaft in the manner previously described. Fig. 15 shows the mechanism for both advancing and restoring the carriage, while Fig. 16 omits the advance connections. The spool H9 and the spool I22, when both are used, are adapted to be alternately clutched to the motor shaft by clutches I23 and I24, each comprising a driven clutch element freely mounted upon the motor shaft and operated by lever I25 or I26, as the case may be, to engage with the associated constantly rotating driving clutch element fixedly mounted on.

the motor shaft. The friction clamp I21 is provided for each of the spools, so that suflicient resistance will be afforded against the drawing out of the tape connections to hold the same in taut relation at all times. Where power is relied upon, the carriage can be moved horizontally, vertically, or at any desired angle.

Fig. 13 shows a slight modification in which the conveyor 53 is dispensed with, and the sheetsare carried around until they strike against an obliquely disposed plate I28, which serves to release them in position to fall into the particular compartment currently positioned to receive them. The particular means shown for the power driving of the carriage, either in one or both directions,serves. merely for purposes of illustration and as an adequate form of mechanism, but it will be understood that any other type of power connection may be employed for the same purposes. a

'The motor I I6 is shown in circuit between the line Wires H0a and III through the medium of a switch I29 and connecting wires I30 and I3I.

Operation In operation the paper sheets are fed in the usual manner on .a table from a stack or platform 2m and are caught and spread upon. the gelatine surface by the revolution of the pressure roll 25 in the manner set forth in detail in Patent No.'1,979,285. The arrival of the stripping mechanism 21 strips the imprinted sheet from the gelatine and feeds it over the outside of the revolving shield 28 which carries it down to the point of deposit upon the conveyor 53 (or to the plate I28 as the case may be). Where the conveyor is employed, and with a sheet in place on the shield, the bar 38 will be unlatched by the withdrawal of the latch hook so that as soon as the roller 40 rids off the stationary cam 4!, it will momentarily contact the'wiper button 42 and close the switch 44 momentarily energizing the solenoid 51 which throwsupthe wiper 54 and arreststhe paper sheet, causing it to fall upon the conveyor .53 for deposit into the appropriate bin or compartment.

The special features of the present invention, however, are mainly concerned with mean operable from the control switch box for releasing the carriage for its step by step advance to the paper depositing position. I,

By depressing in each of the groups on the control switch box, the particular button IOI which controlsthe arresting of the carriage during one or the intended. number of sheet depositing in-- tervals, the step by step travel of the carriage will be predetermined throughout each stage of its operation. For instance, if the third button IOI in the firstvertical group representing the first or lowermost compartment of the carriage is set, it will cut out all circuits above the corresponding switch I04, thereby limiting the number of sheets to be deposited to three.

The carriage will be released from its retracted position by the closing of the motor switch I29, which preliminarily energizes the solenoid 64 with the switch Ill-+ closed by the pressure of the. feeler bar I0. As the carriage approaches .the first sheet receiving position, the associated trolley roller will ride along the commutator strip 68 which illuminates the corresponding light I00 through the circuit including the line wire III, light circuit wire I06, commutator strip 68, roller I2, wire I03, and back to line wire Him. While this circuit is still closed, one of the rollers will engage the commutator strip 69 which closes the circuit through the solenoid I8, thereby drawing back the ieeler bar ID. Thi circuit includes line w-ire H0, solenoid I8, wire H2, commutator strip 69, associated roller I2, line wire I68, and back to line wire mm; Commutator strip 69 overlaps the shorter strips Ila, 'IIb, etc. which are in circuits including the switches I04, so that the feeler bar '10 will be released from the pull of the solenoid I8 while the trolley wheels are still in contact with the commutator strips HaJIb, etc.

. When this condition obtains, one or more circuits will be closed through. the commutatorstrips I la, (lIb, etc.) and the closing of this circuit or circuits will energize one or more of the solenoids 83, thereby setting up one or more of the stop fingers 92. This circuit (or circuits) includes the line wire I I0, one or more switches I04, wires I05, commutator strips I I a, "I I b, etc., associated trolley rollers I2, wire or wires I01, one or more solenoids 83, header wire I08 and back to line wire H0a. In view of the overlapping between the commutator strips, the stops will be setup slightly in advance of the release of the feeler bar 10, so that the latter, when released, will move under the tension of spring 95 until it encounters the first stop set up in the series where its position will be arrested with the contact point 89 in circult withthe associate contact 90 in the circuit which includes the solenoids 82, header wire I09,

brain switch 45 and return back to line wire I Illa.

This conditions the circuit for closing as soon as the roller 40 encounters the brain switch button 43. As soon as the brain switch is closed, the first stop finger 92 will be released and the feeler bar I0 will move to the right in Fig. 2 until it encounters the next stop if more than one be set.

marines posited ,in the intended .bin .or compartment .of Qtheacarriagebut after the throwing downofl'the =last-stop, .-the ieeler bar willlmovelto its "extreme right hand position. in Fig.2 .thereby .closinglth'e switches #81:.and 88, which lthereuponener'gizes 5 the. solenoid 64; momentarily drawing back the carriage stop roller 60 and-allowing the carriage -to advance to the-.next position-and toithere receivethe number-oi -.sheetsrpredeterminedby' the setting of theswitch groupappropriate.toisaid .position. I

.If it is desired-to temporarily disable the stting Eup. mechanism in-;the control switch box, the hold button l'tt'wmayabe depressed whichdopens theeswitch H4 in -the circuit .01? solenoidlfilwhich prevents --the operation'wof theusolenoid and .Lper- .mits' thecoperatonof thermachine tolhold the car- .-riage at: rest in any desired positionl for the; purpose vof .countingcirca-number of sheets inexcs's -of theicapacity of 'the-I'control iswitchtsetting or *wheredtr is otherwise desired-to disable the autov.matic:feature, v

eIn the use :of l the so-called. brain; switch, the =operation of the rmachine will .be. ineffective .ex- 'cept whenea ;paper.-sheet is: being delivered .lsinc'e .the sfinal .closing of the brain .switch is essential @to energizei-thepreviouslyconditionedcircuitand veffect thestepping "off of. the feeler bar to.-its'flnal rposition at whichit :is.v enabledto .close' the circuit w-hich effects/the i-inal release otthe carriage.

Although in Fig. 2, the .solenoids#82=and83 toegetherwithithe stop meehanism,lfeeler bar .and associated solenoid are shown in close-proximity .to nthecarriage release .-roller -60, .itiisi'nomessenv -tial .that these parts-be. inlp'hysical, proximity lto oneaanother since the entirelimechanism ..for set- .ti-ngrth-e stops and rprogressively.steppingJofflthe c'feeler bar can be enclosedinasuitable box or housing located at any convenient .point within ,theiramenfithe machine. .I-t..is oficours'elessen- 5 tial thatthe-various movements'beproperlytimed .--s0 that the 'CQP-PififiBE-Will beaccuratelypositioned 'to ereceive each .oncoming ,paperwsheet or .sheets I -intorthe appropriateLbinor compartment but this timing is: efiected by-v a, proper positioning of 13116;}{1 c-b'rainswitch button, so :that the. release of the carriagewill not occur-untila fiullcomplementof sheets hastbeen rdelivereddnto. the. intended comapartment. :Although the l invention. has been .described with i-fullrrparticularity"as-to.detail, it win sp be understood that numerous modifications (may be made therein *without departing from the :spirit ofthe invention. Furthermore, .although .the machine is described .innassociatedrrelation with .the dupl-icat- 55 =ingflmachine .for whichitlisprimarily intended, it will be understood that .the distributing mechanism isapplicableltolvarioustypes of mechanisms -.designed, for -the purpose of distributing sheets or the like,.'from a commompoint of delivery, "and co in therrequired numberin each instance to permit subsequent distribution '"for any" appropriate purpose, "and -although, "as "described, the carriage is movable with relation to the point of discharge for the" sheets, -it will be'understooii"that rlativegif) 'inovemen't only is essential and that"the 'gneral principles of "the present invention "are applicable to a-rnachi'n'e inwhichthe'sheevdelivering mech- -anisin is the movable 'element under control in *the' manner herein described.

"We-claim: i -1. :In 'azmachine'rof athe "class described iand'in combination "with *means :for delivering sheets 'or the like, a carriage provided with :compart- :ments *and :mountedior movement to bring said 15 compartments successively to the point of delivery, means for effecting the movements of said carriage, and control mechanism. adapted to beset in advance to hold the carriage in receiving position throughout a predetermined number of cycles of operation of the delivering mechanism,

said means including a brain switch and an electrical mechanism in circuit therewith for actuating the carriage moving means, said brain switchbeing adapted for actuation only by the presence of a sheet or the like traveling to the delivering position.

-2. In amachine of theclass described and in combination with mechanism for delivering sheets or the like, a. carriage provided with a plurality of compartments and adapted to moveto bring said compartments successivelyto the sheet delivering. position, release-mechanism for the car- .riage adapted when released to permit movement thereof, and control-mechanism adapted to be set "in (advance to defer action of the carriage releasemechanism during apredetermined nurnber of cycles of operation of the .sheet delivering mechanism, said control mechanism including a @gro-u-p of, stops for each compartment and means 'for selectively. setting the number of stops corresponding tothe intended number of cycles ofoperations of the delivering mechanism, and means controlled by the passage of a sheet to the delivering position for throwing down said stops insuccession and means effective after the throwprovided with ajplurality of compartments, re-

lease mechanism adapted when released to permit movement of the carriage, a commutator panel provided'with a group of commutator strips one group associated with each compartment,

trolley :memlbers carried by the carriage and adapted as the carriage moves to make contact with the commutator strips of each group, a

control board having switch setting devices for establishing circuit connection with a selected number of.each group of.commutator strips, stops arid means in .circuitwith said commutator strips .forsetting up 'a selected number of stops through trolley contact with the "associated commutator strips, "a'feeleribar and means associateed with a commutator strip in each group and adapted through (trolley contact .to effect the drawing lbackiof the' feeler bar into position to thereafter encounter said stops when set and adapted thereafter to move toward stop encountering positions, :and means adapted to be actuated by the passage of a paper sheet toward the delivering 1position to throw down said stops successively with each sheet. delivering operation and means actuat'edbythefeelerbar after escaping the last 'stop"for eiiiecting 'an operation of the carriage release mechanism.

14 Inc, machine of the class described and in combination withmechanism for delivering sheets or the like, a carriage provided with a plurality of compartments and movable'step by step to sheet delivering position, a commutator panel provided 'with'agroup offcommutator stripsioreach compartment, an'd'tr'olley mechanism carried by the 'carriageiior :contacting the commutator strips of each grounairele'ase mechanism for the carriage and a solenoidjforioperating saidrelease mechanism, a control panel providedwith switch means adapted in advance to establish circuit connections with a selected number of commutator strips, a group of stops and means in circuit with the commutator strips of a group for throwing a selected number of said stops to stopping position, a feeler bar adapted when in released position to close a circuit for energizing the carriage release solenoid, means for retracting the feeier bar beyond the group of stops and a commutator strip in each commutator group adapted through trolley connection to energize said retracting means, and means for successively throwing down the stops to progressively release the feeler bar, said means including a device adapted to be actuated by the passage of a paper sheet toward delivering position.

5. In a machine of the class described and in combination with mechanism for delivering sheets or the like, a carriage provided with a plurality of compartments and movable step by step to sheet delivering position, a commutator panel provided with a group of commutator strips for each compartment, and trolley mechanism carried by the carriage for contacting the commutator strips of each group, a release mechanism for the carriage and a solenoid for operating said release mechaadapted in advance to establish circuit connections with a selectednumber of commutator' strips, a group of stops and means in circuit with the commutator strips of a group for throwing a selected number of said stops to stopping position, a feeler bar adapted when in released position to close a circuit for energizing the carriage release solenoid, means for retracting the feeler bar beyond the group of stops and a commutator strip in each commutator group adapted through trolley connection to energize said retracting means, and means for successively throwing down the stops to progressively release the feeler bar, said means including switch mechanism adapted tolbe controlled by the passage of a paper sheet toward delivering position for successively throwing down said stops as paper sheets are delivered and until the last stop'is displaced, thereafter permitting the feeler bar to effect energizing of the carriage release solenoid.

6. In a machine of the class described andim I combination with mechanism for delivering paper In a machine of the class described and in sheets or the like, a carriage movably mounted and provided with a plurality of compartments adapted to be successively brought to the delivering position, setting up mechanism adapted to be set to predetermine the movements of the car-i riage and to arrest the same for the delivery of one or more sheets into each selected compart-l ment, a plurality of stops and means under conv trol of the setting up mechanism for settingup, the required number of stops for. each arrest of the carriage at the discharging position,lmeans controlled by the setting of said stops for holding the carriage in arrested position and adapted to release the carriage after the withdrawal of the last stop, and means I controlled by the move-E ment of a pacer sheet to the discharging position for successively restoring the stops to ultimately ef ect release of the carriage.

'7. In a machine of the class described and in combination with means for feeding paper sheets or the like to discharging position, a movable carriage provided with compartments adapted to be successively moved to the discharging position, a plurality of stops adapted when one or w more are positionedto arrest the further move- 75 ment of the carriage to hold each compartment in succession in sheet receiving position, selective setting up mechanism for each compartment adapted to predetermine the period of arrest of the carriage to receive the desired number of sheets, and means controlled by the setting up mechanism for setting a desired number of said stops for efiecting arrest of the carriage for a corresponding period to permit the associated compartment to receive a number of sheets corresponding to the number of stops set up, means controlled by the passage of sheets to the compartment for successively restoring the stops, and means actuated by the restoration of the last stop for permitting the carriage arresting mechanism to release the carriage for continued movement.

8. In a machine of the class described and in combination with means for feeding sheets or the like to the discharging position, a movable carriage provided with compartments, and means for effecting movement of the carriage to bring the compartments successively and in uniform sequence to the sheet discharging position, means for arresting the carriage setting up mechanism for each compartment for controlling the period of arrest of the carriage to permit each compartment to receive the number of sheets predetermined by the positioning'ofthe setting up mechanism, and adapted after said period has expired to permit movement of the carriage to the next sheet receiving position.

96 In a machine of the class described and in combination with means for feeding sheets or the like to the discharging position, a movable carriage provided with compartments, and means for effecting movement of the carriage to bring the compartments successively to the sheet discharging position, setting up mechanism for each compartment for selectively controlling the period of arrest of the carriage to permit each compartment to receive the desired number of sheets, stop i by the passage of sheetsto the discharging position for rendering the action of the setting up mechanism effective only under such conditions.

combination with continuously operating mechanism for delivering paper sheets or the like, a movable carriage provided with a plurality of compartments'adapted to be successively and in uniform sequence brought into sheet receiving position. a control box provided with groups of switch buttons one group for each carriage compartment, and adapted upon actuation of a selected button to predetermine the number of sheets to be received into the associated compartment, switch mechanisms actuated by said buttons, electrical connections controlled by said switches, mechanisms actuated through said electrical connections and adapted to hold the carriage in sheet receiving position until each compartment has received the number of sheets commensurate'with the predetermined setting of the associated switch button and adapted to thereupon release the carriage for relative-travel to the next sheet receiving position,- and mechanisms for suspending the operation of the carriage holding and releasing mechanisms save during the passage of a sheet.

11. In a machine for the class described, the

combination of mechanism for delivering sheets or the like and a carriage having therein a plurality of compartments, the sheet delivering mechanism and the carriage having progressive relative movement with respect to one another in uniform sequence to permit the discharge of sheets into each compartment, and setting up mechanism adapted to be set in advance to predetermine the number of sheets to be discharged into each compartment and means controlled thereby and adapted to maintain the sheet delivering mechanism and the carriage in stationary relation to one another until each compartment has received the number of sheets predetermined by the positioning of the setting up mechanism and to thereafter efiect relative movement of the carriage to bring the next compartment included in the predetermined setting into sheet receiving position.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of mechanism for delivering sheets or the like and carriage mechanism provided with compartments, the sheet delivering mechanism and the carriage having relative movement with respect to one another to bring the compartments successively into sheet receiving position, setting up mechanism having a group of members for each compartment adapted to permit a predetermined setting to arrest the parts against movement until the associated icompartment has received a corresponding number of sheets, means controlled by the discharging of the sheet for rendering the setting up mechanism efiective in timing the arrest of relative movement between the carriage and the sheet delivering mechanism, and means effective after the discharge of the predetermined number of sheets for effecting relative movement between the carriage and the sheet delivering mechanism to bring the next compartment of the carriage to sheet receiving position.

13. In a machine of the class described and in combination with means for carrying paper sheets or the like to the discharging position,

a carriage provided with compartments, means for effecting relative movement between the paper discharging means and the carriage to bring the compartments in uniform sequence to sheet receiving position, means for effecting relative arrest of the carriage and the sheet carrying means for the successive discharge of paper sheets into each of the compartments, and setting up mechanism for each compartment including members adapted to be set in advance and effective when set to control the operations of the arresting means and prevent movement between the carriage and paper discharging means during a period of time in each instance adequate to permit reception of sheets into each selected compartment in number predetermined by the selective setting and adapted thereafter to effect release of the carriage to bring the next compartment into receiving position.

14. In a machine of the class described and in combination with mechanism for delivering sheets or the like, a carriage mounted for movement with respect to the delivering position and provided with a plurality of compartments, re lease mechanism adapted when released to permit movement of the carriage, a commutator panel provided with groups of commutator contacts one group associated with each compartment, control members movable concurrently with the carriage and adapted as the carriage moves to engage the commutator contacts of eachgroup, a control board having switch setting devices for establishing circuit connection with selected members of the groups of commutator contacts, and means under the control of the switch setting devices for timing the action of the carriage release mechanism in conformity with the individual positioning of the switch setting devices in each group to provide for the reception into each compartment of the number of sheets predetermined by the positioning of the switch setting devices.

'15. In a machine of the class described and in combination with mechanism for delivering sheets or the like, a carriage mounted for move-' ment with respect to the delivering position and provided with a plurality of compartments, release mechanism adapted when released to permit movement of the carriage, a commutator panel provided with groups of commutator contacts one group associated with each compartment, control members movable concurrently with the carriage and adapted as the carriage moves to engage the commutator contacts of each group, a control board having switch setting devices for establishing circuit connection with selected members of the groups of commutator contacts, means under the control of the switch setting devices for timing the action of the carriage release mechanism in conformity with the individual positioning of the switch setting devices in each group to provide for the reception into each compartment of the number of sheets predetermined by the positioning ofthe switch setting devices, and means adapted to be actuated by the passage of a paper sheet toward the delivering position for counting off the number of sheets delivered and deferring the carriage release until said number of sheets corresponds to the positioning of the switch setting devices in the group controlling delivery into the compartment currently receiving such sheets.

16. In a machine of the class described and in combination with means for delivering sheets or the like, a carriage provided with compartments and mounted for movement during each complete cycle of operation to bring said compartments in regular uniform sequence to the point of delivery, means for effecting progressive movements of said carriage, and setting up mechanisms, adapted to be set in advance of the cycle of carriage movements, one group for each compartment and each group including selectively operated devices adapted to be preliminarily set to cause the subsequent arrest of the carriage upon arrival at the receiving position for said compartment, and if arrested to stand at the receiving position throughout one or more cycles of operation of the sheet delivering mechanism corresponding to the previous selective setting of said devices.

1'7. In a machine of the class described and in combination with means for delivering sheets or the like, a carriage provided with compartments and mounted for movement during each complete cycle of operation to bring said compartments in regular uniform sequence to the point of delivery, means for eifecting progressive movements of said carriage, and setting up mechanisms adapted to be set in advance of the cycle of carriage movements, one group for each compartment and each group including 1 tively operated devices adapted to be preliminarily set to cause the subsequent arrest of the carriage upon arrival at the receiving position for said compartment; and if arrested to stand at the'receiving position throughout one or more cycles of operation of the sheet delivering mechanism corresponding to the selective setting of said devices, and means for rendering said control mechanisms effective to arrest the carriage by the presence of a. sheet or the like traveling to the delivering position and adapted to otherwise render said control mechanisms inefiective.

NORMAN E. TRUITT. LEWIS F. SCHROEDERl 

